Brahamaputra Basin

Brahamaputra Basin
Besides, this region has the highest per capita and per hectare availability of water in the country
and possesses as much as 41 per cent of the country's total hydropower potential. The average
annual water potential and the utilizable surface water of the basin are 537.24 BMC and 24 BCM
respectively. Prior to independence, little thought was given towards water resources development
in Brahmaputra valley. In the Brahmaputra basin the development of irrigation started after the 3rd
five year plan. Lower Subansiri & Ranganadi of Arunachal Pradesh, Khandong Dam of Meghalaya,
Doyang dam of Nagaland, & Rangit-III Dam of Sikkim are few major dams constructed across
Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Barrages associated with the major and medium irrigation projects
of this basin are Teesta, Dhansiri, Barolia, Jaldhaka, Burisuti, Garufella, Dzuza,
Baradikarai,Champamati, Longa, Bhumki barrage ect. Important weirs constructed in this region are
Sukla, Jamuna, Umiam-Umtru and Pahumura weir.The main purpose of barrages and weirs
constructed in the basin is Irrigation. Dams constructed in this basin are basically to tap the immense
hydropower potential of this region.The Brahmaputra basin has abundant hydropower
potential.Several hydropower projects of this region like the Kopili (200 MW), Khandong (75 MW),
Karbi Langpi (100 MW) of Assam, Lower Subansiri (2,000 MW), Dibang (3000 MW), Kameng (600
MW), and Ranganadi (405 MW) of Arunachal Pradesh, Teesta-V (510 MW) of West Bengal,Umiam-
Umtru Power Complex (174 MW) of Meghalaya etc. are presently at various stages of operation,
development and planning.
There are 27 gauge sites, 5 gauge discharge sites, 40 gauge quality sites, 14 gauge discharge quality
sites, 10 gauge discharge sediment sites, and 18 gauge discharge sediment quality sites in the basin
which are maintained by Central Water Commission (CWC) for the study of hydro-meteorological
observations. The Central Water Commission also operates 27 flood forecasting stations for Level
forecast in the basin.
The basin has good quality of ground water except for high dissolved iron content at some places,
though very few places are affected by salinity. Arsenic contamination in groundwater is also
reported in the Brahmaputra flood plain of Assam.
National Water Development Authority has proposed to connect the Brahmaputra River/ tributaries
to Ganga Basin to transfer its surplus water to the water scarce regions. These 2 links are : i) Manas-
Sankosh-Tista-Ganga Link which will joins Manas River to Ganga River via Sankosh and Teesta Rivers
and ii) the Jogighopa-Tista-Farakka Link which will join Brahmaputra River (Jogighopa Barrage) to
Ganga River (Farakka Barrage).
Due to large deltaic plain, Inland navigation is an important and popular mode of traffic transport in
this basin. Brahmaputra from Dhubri to Sadiya was declared as National Waterway no.2. Some
tributaries of Brahmaputra are navigable throughout the year by country boats.
Flood, Drastic bank line changes and severe bank erosion are grave problems of this basin.
The Brahmaputra basin in India shows, such a huge water resources potential which provides lot of
scope for developmental activities for hydropower, navigation, irrigation, pisciculture, recreation
etc.
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